MORE than 25,000 older people living in Northern Ireland feel lonelier at Christmas, new research has shown.
Age UK found that almost one million older people - 928,000 - around the UK experience loneliness around the festive season, including 26,000 people living in Northern Ireland.
The research was carried out by Age NI.
Linda Robinson, from the charity said loneliness "happens all year round".
"Chronic loneliness is not only horrible to experience day in, day out, it can also have a devastating impact on an older person’s mental and physical health. That’s why Age NI is here to help tackle the loneliness that is blighting far too many later lives".
